The local table tennis governing body (RTTF) has provided table tennis equipment including tables, balls, and rackets to seventeen schools and one club as part of their outreach program.

The donation is courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda.

"The equipment is part of the federation’s outreach program to promote table tennis in schools. Our focus is at the grassroots so that the sport can be played professionally, starting from the very young,” said RTTF chief, Jean Bosco Birungi, during the donation ceremony at Amahoro Stadium on Friday.

He added that, "Now that the national table tennis league is underway, since last weekend, the next focus is the secondary schools competition which we could not establish without equipment.”

On behalf of the National Olympic and Sports Committee, Festus Bizimana, the first Vice President, commended RTTF for the initiative and urged the school officials and administrators to make good use of the equipment.

After receiving the equipment, schools signed Memorandum of Understanding with RTTF for a long-term partnership to develop table tennis in schools.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw